Burma Air Support

[Steve J]

Whilst reading Louis Allen's superb book on the Burma campaign, I can across this aircraft, of which I'd never heard of before:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultee_A-31_Vengeance



I also discovered that up-gunned Hurricanes were used as fighter bombers, having more MG's than a normal one and were referred to as Hurribombers. Another discovery was the use of P-47 Thunderbolts by the RAF too, with a BBC newsreel showing them in action over Mandalay in '44 or '45 IIRC.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

The 12 gun Hurricane is a MkIIB, rapidly followed by MkIIC with 4 20mm Cannon. There were also Mk IV in Burma - these had the universal wing which took 12 MG or 4 20mm cannon, or 2 Vikers S 40mm 20mm and MG versions  had bomb racks. The P47's were lend lease and replaced the Hurricanes. The Vengence was fairly comon in FEAF and RIAF in Burma as a light attack aircraft, RAAF had a coulpe of squadrons.